Mary Ann Hallman Lackey

Mary Ann Hallman Lackey, 91, passed away peacefully due to illness in Charleston, SC on July 23, 2026.

Mary Ann was born on November 11, 1934, in Shelby, NC. She was the daughter of Eskridge Hallman and Annie Lee Hallman. Mary Ann graduated from Fallston High School and entered into a nursing program offered by the Shelby Hospital that required the students to attend classes during the day and work in the hospital long hours after class. Her classmates recall the strict requirements that included starched uniforms and stockings with seams that had to be perfect. The nursing school would not allow students to be married so Mary Ann was not able to complete her degree. She later moved with her husband to Chapel Hill, NC and worked full time while Dale Sr. attended UNC medical school.

The couple later moved to Charleston, SC in 1961 for Dale Sr. to finish his anesthesia residency at the Medical University of SC. Mary Ann was a devoted wife and full time homemaker raising two very active sons, Stuart and Dale Lackey, Jr. So much of Mary Ann's time was spent supporting her family's first love of hunting and fishing, even going offshore to be with her family whether she reeled in a fish or not. She loved to travel and was an avid bridge player hosting regularly in her home. Mary Ann was a lifetime member of Bethel United Methodist Church in downtown Charleston where she also volunteered.

Mary Ann cherished being a grandmother to Christina, Stuart Jr, Steven, and Stratton who lovingly nicknamed her "Granny". She loathed the given name but Mary Ann wore it proudly and became "Granny" to anyone who stopped by to visit. The greater lights of her life were her great grandchildren Amelia, Brody, Luke, Tripp, Stratton Jr. and Lundy. Mary Ann also loved her dogs. She had several Schnauzers over the years, each of them repeatedly named Fritz and her Jack Russell named Rusty who frequented the McDonalds drive through for the occasional Happy Meal.

So many memories were shared at Mary Ann's residence on North Shore Drive filled with Lowcountry boils, holiday dinners, homemade peach ice cream, harbor cruises, or a simple sunset glass of wine on the dock. Mary Ann was described as "spirited" by her minister and she passed this trait to her children. She was also beautiful, witty, and remained sharp as a tack even until her last days of life. She loved to socialize and her family and friends will miss her dearly.

Mary Ann is survived by her two sons, Stuart Lee Lackey, Sr. (Diana) of Mount Pleasant, SC and Dale Rea Lackey , Jr. of Charleston, SC, grandchildren Christina Lackey Brinson, Stuart Lackey, Jr., Steven Lackey, and Stratton Lackey, Sr. (Annie) also of Charleston, SC.  Also survived by her brother-in-law Jack Lackey (Betty) of Maynardville, TN and sister-in-law Brenda Lackey Dowdle (Oscar) of Ashville, NC and their children.

She was preceded in death by parents Eskridge Hallman and Annie Lee Hallman, her brother Lloyd Ray Hallman and sister Nelma Hallman Barnette, her sons' father Dale "Doc" Rhea Lackey, Sr. and her in-laws Ruth Dixon Lackey and Walter J. Lackey, Sr.   Mary Ann's funeral service will be held at Friendship Methodist Church, 111 Friendship Drive, Fallston, NC 28042 on Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 2:00pm. A private interment for Mary Ann's ashes will take place at a later time. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Mary Ann's honor may be made to Bethel United Methodist Church, 57 Pitt St, Charleston, SC 29401.